Ticks 'Tis the season to be aware!

Posted by Stuart Rose on Jul 07, 2016

The Zika virus has been dominating the health news headlines recently, distracting us from remembering that we are now in the Lyme disease season. The Zika virus can be devastating to a fetus, but otherwise it generally causes mild symptoms and (except for rare cases of Guillian-Barre syndrome) resolves without treatment.

Lyme disease is much more serious and is growing more rampant in its normal hotspots across the US; It is also endemic throughout Europe and much of Russia.

If you engage in hiking, camping, or similar outdoor activities in wooded regions of endemic areas, or do a lot of gardening, you must take measures to prevent tick bites; This includes applying a DEET-containing repellent to exposed skin and (before hand) permethrin spray (or solution) to clothing and gear. Always check your body for ticks after outdoor exposure and promptly remove any tick using the tweezers in this Kit.

Unlike the Zika virus, you can treat Lyme disease with antibiotics and early treatment is highly successful. Undiagnosed and untreated Lyme disease can cause serious, and sometimes long-lasting health problems (see below) and can even be (very rarely) fatal.

Like the Zika virus, there is currently no vaccine to prevent Lyme disease. You must prevent tick bites, and if bitten, remove the tick (here's how) as soon as possible. Fortunately, you have about 24 hours before the Lyme bacteria are transmitted. (It's important to inspect your entire body after outdoor exposure.)

We are now offering a Lyme Disease Prevention kit. It contains Ultrathon, a long-lasting DEET-based repellent that you apply to your skin, Permethrin, a repellent one applies to one’s clothing, and a Tick Nipper, a patented tick-removing plier removes any size tick more simply and safely than any other method.

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About the Author

Stuart R. Rose, MD, the author of The International Travel Health Guide, founded Travel Medicine, Inc. in 1989. Dr. Rose was educated at Amherst College and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He is board certified in emergency medicine and internal medicine, and is a fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians.

Dr. Rose is the Director of the Travel Medicine Center of Western Massachusetts in Northampton and attending physician in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Noble Baystate Hospital in Westfield, Massachusetts. He is a member of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and the International Society of Travel Medicine. The International Travel Health Guide is available online.